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Monday, December 17th                                                                                                                                                               I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Terrell Owens. His comments about Jessica Simpson not being popular in Irving right now were spot on. I've noticed that every time that Tony Romo is linked or involved with another starlet his play seems to suffer. Note the 13 of 36, three interception performance yesterday in a loss to Philadelphia when a very visible Simpson was seen cheering on her famous boyfriend in a pick jersey bearing his name and number. Of course, everyone remembers the 16 of 33, two interception outing against the Saints last year when Carrie Underwood was in attendance, which coincided with rumors that he was seeing her. Playing quarterback in the NFL is difficult enough when leading a "normal" life, but when your play becomes secondary to what's being printed in Variety, it's almost impossible. Someone in the organization needs to explain that he should leave the "romancing" for the offseason.

Tuesday, December 18th                                                                                                                                                              I have a couple of notes from today's Pro Bowl announcements that I simply have to include in the Water Cooler:                   1. Mario Williams got jobbed. The Houston Texan, who was in the unenviable position of defending himself as the number one pick last season, has been the most disruptive defensive player in the league this year and simply should have been included. I can understand the selection of Jared Allen (KC - 11.5 sacks and 50 solo tackles), but Kyle Vanden Bosch (TEN) and Jason Taylor (MIA) were questionable at best. Vanden Bosch is an up-and-coming player who was probably being recognized for being snubbed before, but Taylor's another story. Even though his stat line is impressive (10 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, and an interception), he is on one of the worst teams in NFL history, and he just hasn't had the impact on games that he's had in the past. After his comments about Shawne Merriman not deserving the Defensive Player of the Year award last year because of a suspension for steroids, it will be interesting to see if he owns up and steps aside for an honor he truly doesn't deserve. I'm not holding my breath.                                                                                                                                                            2. The election of the late Sean Taylor as a starting safety for the NFC squad was a classy, and deserving, one. Many people forget that before he was injured, the fourth-year player out of Miami was having a season that was being mentioned as Defensive Player of the Year-worthy.

Wednesday, December 19th                                                                                                                                                   Why is it that every time Bill Parcells is hired, I feel very, very dirty? Seriously, every time he takes over a new position, I envision back room deals worthy of Godfather-style scenes being made. Whether it was him negotiating with Tampa Bay while Tony Dungy was still the coach (a big no-no in coaching circles) or the way he handled his transition from the Patriots to the Jets, it just seems....well, unclean. In his latest scheme, in which he pitted Miami versus Atlanta, the inside dirt is that he had no intention of ever taking the Atlanta job, but was just trying to find out how badly Miami wanted him. Of course, that resulted in Wayne Huizenga promising the Tuna that he would not sell the team. The media spends a lot of time berating college coaches for bolting to other programs while still under contract, all the while NFL coaches, especially Parcells, are allowed to walk for their somewhat sleazy behavior. I just don't get it.

Thursday, December 20th                                                                                                                                                             I know that this week seems like a "Mario Williams love-fest", but there's a point I want to make about the scenario in which he was drafted - something that is being neglected by the media. Before another media outlet or draft analyst apologizes to Charley Casserly, they need to know something: HE DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION!                                                                     By the end of the 2005 season, it was well-known that both he and then head coach, Dom Capers, were on their way out the door. Of course, Capers was fired immediately after the last game, but owner Bob McNair allowed the embattled general manager to stay on to assist in the coaching search. After Gary Kubiak was hired, the new coach made a brilliant decision. Casserly had always been praised for his organizational and scouting skills. For some reason, however, he simply struggled when making the actual draft-day decisions. So, he allowed Casserly to stay and assist with his first ever draft.                  After presenting his research to Kubiak before the draft, it was decided that they would pursue contracts with both Williams and Reggie Bush. Combined with the Denver philosophy that revolves around using "lesser" running backs (thus allowing for draft choices to be used on more important positions) and the uneasy feeling Bush gave the conservative Texans when questioned about the scandal involving his parents living arrangements in Southern California, it was Kubiak, not Casserly, that made the decision. Think about it, would you allow a man to make the most important decision for the future of your franchise when you knew he wouldn't be there shortly thereafter?                                                                                        Now, Charley does deserve credit for an extremely honorable going away present he gave to both McNair and Kubiak. He took the fall. When the pick was made, Casserly was front-and-center taking the heat and never allowed the attention to stray from him and "his" decision. For that, he at least deserves credit for being the sacrificial lamb.

Friday, December 21st                                                                                                                                                                  I have a couple of notes from Thursday night's game between the Steelers and Rams:                                                              1. The Steelers are done. Losing Willie Parker to a fractured fibula was the nail in the coffin. He's the type of playmaker that the Steeler offense just could not afford to lose when they're going to face the likes of Indianapolis, New England, and/or San Diego in the playoffs. While Najeh Davenport filled in nicely, you could tell that he was losing steam in the fourth quarter. Of course, that's been one of the knocks on Davenport since he was at Miami, his conditioning.                                                     2. Need a sign of Scott Linehan's future in St. Louis? Just check out the sideline argument between he and Torry Holt. In a league full of prima donna wide receivers, Holt isn't one of them. As a matter of fact, he's one of the easiest guys to get along with. In addition to his team's lackluster performances this year, it's clear that Linehan has lost control, and the respect, of his players.